Feeding apparatus for strip material

ABSTRACT

The intermittent feeding apparatus for strip material as herein disclosed is characterized by feed roll-lifting means which are power operated in an automatic manner to momentarily lift one of the feeding rolls so as to release and free the strip material and which takes place periodically and immediately in advance of a stamping or blanking operation on the material. More particularly the feed rolls are caused to resiliently contact and grip the strip material for a feeding operation by means of a main power cylinder and wherein an auxiliary power cylinder is provided for periodic operation against the main cylinder whereby to separate the feed rolls and release the strip material. During release of the strip material and the same is held against rearward movement by antibackup rolls.

Mar. 7, 1972 FEEDING APPARATUS FOR STRIP MATERIAL Chester M. Wiig, Lincolnwood, lll.

Assignee: F. J. Littell Machine Company, Chicago,

Ill.

Filed: Apr. 30, 1970 Appl. No.: 33,193

Inventor:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Assistant Examiner-Gene A. Church Att0rney-Russell H. Clark [57] ABSTRACT The intermittent feeding apparatus for strip material as herein disclosed is characterized by feed roll-lifting means which are power operated in an automatic manner to momentarily lift one of the feeding rolls so as to release and free the strip material and which takes place periodically and immediately in advance of a stamping or blanking operation on the material. More particularly the feed rolls are caused to resiliently contact and grip the strip material for a feeding operation by means of a main power cylinder and wherein an auxiliary power cylinder is provided for periodic operation against the main cylinder whereby to separate the feed rolls and release the strip material. During release of the strip material and the same is held against rearward movement by antibackup rolls.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDMAR 1 1912 SHEET 1 [IF 4 PAYENTEDMAR 7 I972 3,647. 127

saw u or 4 fesjen/l generally employed a reciprocating rack operating on a pinion with an overrunning clutch between the pinion and the feed rolls. Thus the feed rolls were rotated on one stroke of the rack for a feeding of the strip material and on the return stroke the clutch would overrun and the feed rolls would remain stationary, during which time the press would operate to punch or stamp the material. The feeding apparatus of the invention incorporates an improved type of electric motor capable of intermittent operation with a feed length ranging from 1 inch to more than 900 inches and wherein the feed length can be corrected during operation to an accuracy of several hundredths of an inch.

Another improved feature of the present feeding apparatus resides in the provision of a feed roll lifting means and which will be air operated in an automatic manner to lift one of the pair of feed rolls whereby to release and free the strip material momentarily and immediately in advance of the stamping or blanking operations of the reciprocating die of the press.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a pair of motor driven feed rolls for intermittently feeding strip material and wherein the feed rolls will be combined with air operated roll lifter and release means for use with piloted toolmg.

Another objective of the invention resides in the provision of improved roll lifter and release mechanism which will employ a main air operated power cylinder for loading the feed rolls during operation and an auxiliary air-operated power cylinder designed for actuation against the main cylinder to separate the feed rolls whereby to momentarily release and free the strip material.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of air-operated antibackup rolls which will hold the strip material and prevent rearward movement of the strip during those periods immediately in advance of a die operation when the strip material is released by the roll lifter mechanism and would otherwise be free to move in a rear direction.

Another object is to provide motor driven feed rolls capable of intermittent operation and wherein a roll lifting and release device is provided, the automatic operation of the same being rendered relatively simple and convenient by means of air operated power cylinders.

With these and other objects in view, the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended thereto.

In the drawings which illustrate certain embodiments of invention and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts;

FIG. I is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally through the center of a motor driven strip-feeding machine embodying the improvements of the invention and wherein the upper feed roll is movable;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely of the feeding machine shown in FIG. 1, and substantially on line 2- 2 of said Figure;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken longitudinally of a motor driven strip-feeding machine embodying the improvements of the invention and wherein the bottom feed roll is movable; and

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken vertically substantially on line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIGS. 1 and 2 which show a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I0 indicates the frame of the strip feeding machine and whichincludes a top wall I1, front and backwalls I2 and I3, sidewalls I4 and 15, partition walls 16,17,18 and 19 which are disposed vertically and partition walls 20 and 21 which are disposed horizontally.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the horizontal partition wall 20 is provided with a platform 22 which supports an electric motor 23. The drive shaft 24 of the motor is connected by the coupling 25 to the pinion shaft 26 journaled at its respective ends in the walls I5 and I7 and having the pinion 27 fixed thereto between the journals. The pinion meshes with an intermediate gear'wheel 28 on shaft 30 and which is also journaled at its respective ends by the walls I5 and I7. The intermediate gear wheel 28 has meshing relation with the drive gear 31 on the stud shaft 32 also journaled by the walls I5 and 17. The shaft 32 has operative connection through the universal joints 33 and rod 34 with the shaft 35 of the upper feed roll 36. The drive gear 31 also meshes with a similar drive gear 37 on the shaft 38 for the lower feed roll 40.

The drive from the electric motor 23 to the feed rolls 36 and 40 thus includes the pinion 27, the intermediate gear 28 and the drive gears 31 and 37 which are the same'size so that both feed rolls are rotated simultaneously and to a like extent. Also due to the universal joints 33, the upper feed roll 36 is bodily movable as contemplated by the invention towards and from feed roll 40. The motor 23 is capable of intermittent operation with an adjustable feed length ranging from 1 inch to over 900 inches and wherein it is possible to correct the accuracy of the feed length during operation to approximately several hundredths of an inch. The motor is of the permanent magnet direct current type having three-phase regenerative braking when operating on a full reversing SCR power supply.

As regards the lower feed roll 40 the partition wall 21 supports the members 41 and these journal the respective ends of the shaft 38 thus mounting the lower roll for rotation but not for bodily movement which is provided for as regards the upper roll 36 as will be presently described in detail. The drive shaft 38 for the lower feed roll 40 carries the support rolls 39, one being located on each side of the said feed roll for supporting the side edges of the strip in the event a relatively wide strip is being fed by the rolls.

As shown in FIG. 1, the strip material 42 enters the feeding machine at the right-hand end and said material is transversely guided by the spaced pins 43 located on respective sides of the path of movement of the strip. From the transverse guiding means, the strip passes through the straightener 44 having rolls such as 45 and 46 for bending and thereby straightening the strip material in the conventional manner. The vertical position of the upper roll 45 is controlled by the power cylinder 47 having the piston rod 48. From the straightening apparatus, the strip material passes between the backup rolls 50 which incorporate an overrunning clutch permitting rotation in a direction for forward feeding movement of the strip but preventing any rear movement. The strip then passes between the intermittently rotatable feed rolls 36 and 40. In this embodiment the upper backup roll is movable vertically by the power cylinder generally indicated by the numeral 51 so that the backup rolls can be separated to facilitate the initial threading of the strip material through the machine. Also when the roll lifter is actuated the strip is released by the feed rolls and rear movement of the strip which would otherwise take place is prevented by the antibackup rolls 50. The strip is progressed by the feed rolls in a forward direction and to a predetermined extend depending on the selected feed length to the pinch rolls 52, the upper pinch roll being controlled by the air cylinder 53. From the pinch rolls, the material is again guided and transversely positioned by the side guiding pins 54.

Referring again to the upper feed roll 36, it will be seen from FIG. 1 that the roll is journaled at its respective ends by the members 56-which are part of and unitary with the stud arms 57'. The spaced arms are connected and joined by the tubular part 58. The said tubular part has the upright and spaced levers 60 integral therewith. This entire assembly as a unit is mounted on the pivot rod 61 which is supported in depending relation from the partition wall 20 and journaled by the depending supports 62. Any rocking of the levers 60 will cause the joumaling members 56 and thus the upper feed roll to move bodily up and down in a vertical direction so that the roll 36 can be pressed towards the lower feed roll 40 or separated therefrom.

The levers 60 are connected at their upper ends by the rod 64 and which rod mounts the yoke member 65. The piston rod 66 is threadedly secured to the central part of the yoke member and the piston rod is actuated by the main power cylinder 67 which is preferably air operated. When air under pressure is admitted to the forward end of the cylinder 67, the piston and the piston rod are forced in a direction to the right thus rocking the levers 60 to press the upper roll 36 towards the lower roll 40. Thus the levers 60 and structure connecting therewith comprise a part of the roll-lifting means of the invention and which is normally biased by the main power cylinder 67 in a direction to press the upper feed roll 36 towards the lower feed roll 40. However to facilitate the threading of the strip material through the machine and to release and free the strip before the stamping or blanking operation takes place, the invention contemplates the provision of an air-operated auxiliary cylinder 68 which will periodically act against the main power cylinder and separate the feed rolls.

The auxiliary power cylinder 68, which is preferably air operated, is pivotally connected at 70 to the frame of the machine and thus the cylinder is supported in depending relations and is capable of free swinging movement. The piston rod of the cylinder is pivotally connected at 71 to the lever 72, which at its left hand end FIG. 1, is fixedly secured to the shaft 73. The depending arm 74 is also fixedly secured to the said shaft 73 and said arm at its depending free end carries an adjustable set screw 75. The shaft 73 is suitably mounted for rotation, as shown in FIG. 2, by means of the joumaling member 76 carried by the partition wall 16 and by the journaling member 77 carried by the standard 78. Whereas the lever 72 is connected to the shaft73 at its left end, the arm 74 is fixed to the shaft adjacent its right-hand end and the same is centrally aligned with the yoke member 65. This is necessary since the setscrew 75 is adapted to contact the rod 64 which extends between and joins the end portions of the said yoke member.

During operation of the stripfeeding machine of the invention, the main power cylinder 67 is rendered operative by air under pressure admitted to its forward end to move the piston rod 66 in a right-hand direction and rock the levers 60 on the pivot rod 61 and maintain the upper feed roll 36 pressed towards the lower feed roll 40. In order to lift the upper roll for a separating action of the feed rolls, it is only necessary to admit air under pressure to the rear of the auxiliary cylinder 68. The piston rod of the cylinder will be projected and lever 72 will be rocked in a clockwise direction to in turn rock the arm 74 also in a clockwise direction. In accordance with the invention, the auxiliary power cylinder 68 is thus caused to work against the main power cylinder 67 since the arm 74 in rocking in a clockwise direction will cause the set screw 75 to force the rod 64 of the yoke member 65 in a left-hand direction. This action on the yoke member will so rock the levers 60 as to lift the upper feed roll. Air under pressure can be admitted to the auxiliary cylinder 68 manually by the operator or the cylinder can be operated automatically in timed relation with the feeding operations of the particular machine.

The modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is similar as to basic objectives to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 and here the lower roll is movable for separating the feed rolls. The frame 80 of the machine is supported on the base 81 and said frame includes the front and rear walls 82 and 83, the sidewalls 84 and 85 and the horizontal and vertical partition walls 86, 87 and 88. The strip material will enter the machine on the right-hand side FIG. 3, being duly supported by the apron 90. Since the material is supplied from a loop, which is required due to the intermittent feeding action of the feed rolls, it becomes necessary to support the strip and to pass the same through antibackup rolls The support is generally designated 91 in FIG. 3 and the antibackup rolls by the numeral 92. The top roll 92 is supported for rotation by the depending standard 93 and the position of the bottom roll 92 is controlled by the air cylinder 94. From the antibackup rolls the strip material passes between the feed rolls 95 and 96 which can be intermittently rotated by the electric motor 97. From the feed rolls the strip is projected forwardly in predetermined feed lengths while being supported on the platform 98.

The electric motor 97 is of the same type as described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2 and the motor will have the same capabilities. The motor drive shaft. 100 has the pinion gear 101 secured thereto and which meshes with the intermediate gear 102. The said gear 102 in turn drives the gearwheel 103 fixed to the shaft 104 of the upper feed roll 95. The gearwheel 103 meshes with a similar size gearwheel 105 on the stud shaft 106. A pair of universaljoints 107 and a connecting rod 108 join the stud shaft 106 with the shaft 110 for the lower feed roll 96. Due to the universal joints, the drive to the lower feed roll can be maintained while permitting up and down movement of the lower feed roll. The upper feed roll 95 is journaled in a conventional manner by the joumaling members 111 suitably supported by the standards 112 in depending relation from the horizontal partition 87. The manner in which the lower feed roll 96 is journaled and supported for bodily movement constitutes part of the roll lifter apparatus of the invention and which will now be described in detail.

The members 114 journal the shaft 110 of the lower feed roll for rotation and said joumaling members are each integral with a stud arm 115. Each unitary assembly including a member 114 and a stud arm 115 is fixedly secured in spaced relation on the pivot shaft 1 16 which is supported for rotation by the standards 117 mounted on the partition wall 86. Two spaced levers 118 are in turn fixed to the shaft 116 on each side of the center, FIG. 4, and said levers depend through the wall 86 and terminate adjacent the main power cylinder 120. Any rocking movement imparted to the levers 118 will oscillate the shaft 116 and through the fixed arms 115 the lower feed roll 96 will be moved up and down. The lower depending ends of the spaced levers 118 are joined by the rod 121 and said rod is in turn suitably connected to the piston rod 122 of the main power cylinder 120. Said cylinder is preferably air operated and upon the admission of air under pressure to the left end of the cylinder, the piston rod 122 and the rod 121 will be forced towards the right, FIG. 3. This will rock the levers 118 so that the lower feed roll is pressed towards the upper feed roll.

As previously stated it is necessary at times to separate the feed rolls as for example to facilitate the initial threading of the strip through the machine. Also it is required that the strip be released and free immediately in advance of a stamping or blanking operation. Accordingly the invention provides roll lifting means similar to that as described for FIGS. 1 and 2 and which essentially includes an auxiliary power cylinder 123. The cylinder is pivoted at 124 to the frame of the machine and is free to pivot which is necessary since the piston rod 125 of the auxiliary cylinder is connected at 126 to the lever 127. The lever is mounted for oscillating movement by the rod 128 which is rotatably supported by the spaced bracket plates 130 provided by the sidewall 82. The lever includes the part 131 extending above the pivot rod 128 and this part is provided with the adjustable set screw 132 which is adapted to contact the rod 121.

Thus when it is desired to lower the bottom roll 96 to separate the feed rolls, it' is only necessary to admit air under pressure to the auxiliary cylinder 123. This will project the piston rod 125 and rock the lever 127 in a counterclockwise direction causing the setscrew 132 to work against the rod 121 and against the main power cylinder 120. As a result the levers in good gripping contact with the strip material passing between the rolls. For automatic operation, the auxiliary cylinders 68 and 123 are renders operative periodically by air under pressure being admitted thereto behind the piston and the leverage which has been built into the roll lifter apparatus will work against the main power cylinders to separate the feed rolls. The leverage is evident in H6. 1 wherein the lever 72 is relatively long compared to the short depending arm 74. The same relation exists in FIG. 3 wherein the lever 127 is relatively long and the part 131 above the pivot shaft 128 is considerably shorter.

lclaim:

1. ln apparatus for feeding strip material, in combination, vertical and horizontal frame members providing a supporting structure, a first feed roll supported by a horizontal frame member and journalled for rotation, an electric motor supported by a horizontal frame member above the said feed roll, gear means operatively connecting the electric motor with the said feed roll, a second feed roll adapted to coact with the first feed roll for advancing the strip material in a feeding direction when the feed rolls are rotated, crank arm means including a lever and a pair of spaced arms supported for oscillating movement as a unit on an axis substantially intermediate the lever and the arms, journalling members carried by the free ends of the spaced arms for journalling the second feed roll and which is thus supported for movement bodily, whereby oscillating movement of the crank arm means will move the second feed roll towards and from the first feed roll, a main power cylinder having a piston rod in operative contact with the free end of the said lever and normally operative to force the said lever and thus the crank arm means in a direction to maintain the second feed roll in coacting relation with the first feed roll, an auxiliary power cylinder having a piston rod, and lever means operatively connecting the piston rod of the auxiliary power cylinder with the said free end of the lever of the crank arm means and on the side opposite the main power cylinder, whereby actuation of the auxiliary power cylinder will oppose the main power cylinder and oscillate the lever of the crank arm means to cause the second feed roll to move away from the first roll to thus separate the feed rolls.

2. ln apparatus for feeding strip material as defined by claim 1, additionally including a drive shaft for the second feed roll, a gear on the drive shaft operatively connecting with the gear means, and universal joint means forming part of the drive shaft for permitting said bodily movement of the second feed roll.

3. In apparatus for feeding strip material intermittently, in combination, frame structure for the apparatus and having a horizontal partition wall, an electric motor supported by the partition wall of the frame structure, a first feed roll having a shaft and which is supported by another horizontal wall below the electric motor and journalled for rotation, a second feed roll also having a shaft, gear means operatively connecting the shafts of the first and second feed rolls and which thus intermittently rotate the feed rolls when the motor is so operated, universal joint means forming part of the shaft for the second feed roll and which permits bodily movement of the second feed roll, means for supporting the second feed roll for bodily movement towards and from the first feed roll, said means including oscillatable crank arm structure, journalling members carried by the arms of said crank arm structure for journalling the shaft of the second feed roll on respective sides of the said roll, a main power cylinder in supported relation on the frame structure, said main power cylinder having a piston rod in such connected relation with the crank arm structure that energization of the power cylinder will oscillate the crank arm structure in a direction to force the second feed roll towards the first feed roll, an auxiliary power cylinder also supported by the frame structure and having a piston rod, and lever means operatively connecting the piston rod of the auxiliary power cylinder with the crank arm structure and in a manner to oppose the main power cylinder, whereby energization of the auxiliary power cylinder will oscillate the crank arm structure against the mam power cylinder to move the second feed roll away from the first feed roll to thus separate the rolls. 

1. In apparatus for feeding strip material, in combination, vertical and horizontal frame members providing a supporting structure, a first feed roll supported by a horizontal frame member and journalled for rotation, an electric motor supported by a horizontal frame member above the said feed roll, gear means operatively connecting the electric motor with the said feed roll, a second feed roll adapted to coact with the first feed roll for advancing the strip material in a feeding direction when the feed rolls are rotated, crank arm means including a lever and a pair of spaced arms supported for oscillating movement as a unit on an axis substantially intermediate the lever and the arms, journalling members carried by the free ends of the spaced arms for journalling the second feed roll and which is thus supported for movement bodily, whereby oscillating movement of the crank arm means will move the second feed roll towards and from the first feed roll, a main power cylinder having a piston rod in operative contact with the free end of the said lever and normally operative to force the said lever and thus the crank arm means in a direction to maintain the second feed roll in coacting relation with the first feed roll, an auxiliary power cylinder having a piston rod, and lever means operatively connecting the piston rod of the auxiliary power cylinder with the said free end of the lever of the crank arm means and on the side opposite the main power cylinder, whereby actuation of the auxiliary power cylinder will oppose the main power cylinder and oscillate the lever of the crank arm means to cause the second feed roll to move away from the first roll to thus separate the feed rolls.
 2. In apparatus for feeding strip material as defined by claim 1, additionally including a drive shaft for the second feed roll, a gear on the drive shaft operatively connecting with the gear means, and universal joint means forming part of the drive shaft for permitting said bodily movement of the second feed roll.
 3. In apparatus for feeding strip material intermittently, in combination, frame structure for the apparatus and having a horizontal partition wall, an electric motor supported by the partition wall of the frame structure, a first feed roll having a shaft and which is supported by another horizontal wall below the electric motor and journalled for rotation, a second feed roll also having a shaft, gear means operatively connecting the shafts of the first and second feed rolls and which thus intermittently rotate the feed rolls when the motor is so operated, universal joint means forming part of the shaft for the second feed roll and which permits bodily movement of the second feed roll, means for supporting the second feed roll for bodily movement towards and from the first feed roll, said means including oscillatable crank arm structure, journalling members carried by the arms of said crank arm structure for journalling the shaft of the second feed roll on respective sides of the said roll, a main power cylinder in supported relation on the frame structure, said main power cylinder having a piston rod in such connected relation with the crank arm structure that energization of the power cylinder will oscillate the crank arm structure in a direction to force the second feed roll towards the first feed roll, an auxiliary power cylinder also supported by the frame structure and having a piston rod, and lever means operatively connecting the piston rod of the auxiliary power cylinder with the crank arm structure and in a manner to oppose the main power cylinder, whereby energization of the auxiliary power cylinder will oscillate the crank arm structure against the main power cylinder to move the second feed roll away from the first feed roll to thus separate the rolls. 